How to Make a Complaint

Before you make a complaint to the Law Society, you should try to resolve the problem first. Speak with your lawyer or paralegal about your concerns — most lawyers and paralegals want to solve problems before they become complaints.

If the lawyer or paralegal practises law or provides legal services with other licensees, you may ask to speak with a senior member of that firm about the situation.

If your complaint is not resolved after speaking to the lawyer or paralegal, make your complaint to the Law Society as soon as possible.

How to make a complaint about a lawyer or paralegal

To make a complaint to the Law Society, you need to follow four steps:

If you have a complaint about a lawyer or paralegal, you need to follow four steps:

2. Provide all relevant information

When completing the form, make sure to provide all relevant information including:

Your name, address, telephone number and other contact information.

The name and address of the lawyer or paralegal you are complaining about.

Full, accurate information relating to the complaint, including what you feel the lawyer or paralegal did wrong.

Copies of all documents that you believe support your complaint. (Please DO NOT send the originals.) Examples could be a retainer letter, accounts, letters from the lawyer or paralegal, important court documents or documents relating to the transaction that you are complaining about. Note that we may not be able to access documents that are stored in a Cloud and accessed online.

The names and contact information of any witnesses or other sources of information relating to your complaint.

3. Sign the Complaint Form and send it to the Law Society

Sign the completed form, attach copies of any relevant documents, and fax or mail the information to the Law Society at this address:

4. Provide additional information if we ask for it

You may be asked for additional information about your complaint. Please provide this information promptly.

Once a complaint file has been closed, the Law Society will not consider additional documents, information or allegations about the lawyer or paralegal if the issues should have been raised in your original complaint.

Our commitment to a respectful environment

The Law Society is committed to communicating with you in a respectful, professional and civil manner. Similarly, we expect the same courtesy from others.

We understand that the complaint process and the circumstances that give rise to complaints can be stressful. However, we will not accept racist, discriminatory or harassing behaviour or profane communications.

The Law Society is required by law to protect staff from harassing, discriminatory and threatening behaviour. Please note that repeated behaviour of this kind will result in the Law Society restricting communications or no longer communicating with you beyond advising you of the outcome of your complaint.